The 16-acre former farm of the Boone family is now a municipal historic park in San Ramon. It is located at the base of the East Bay hills and is divided by Oak Creek into two parts. The Boone House is a 22-room Dutch colonial that has been remodeled several times since it was built in 1900. Also on the property are an 1850s-era barn; the Victorian-style David Glass House, dating from the late 1860s to early 1870s; a storage structure for farm equipment and automobiles; and a walnut processing plant.

The museum features local artifacts, pictures, flags, drawings and a permanent exhibit commemorating the history of the San Ramon Valley.

Special exhibits:

“Christmas Memories,” through Jan. 5. Experience Christmas past through our nostalgic look at the holiday. This exhibit will feature decorated trees from 1890, 1930 and 1950. Nestled under the trees will be toys, model trains, gingerbread houses of local historic buildings, interactive animated toys, wooden toys from an earlier era and much more.

The museum’s permanent exhibition includes more than 90 internationally renowned automobiles dating from 1897 to the 1980s. Free public, docent-led guided tours at 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Special exhibit:

“All Aboard 2007!: European Train Enthusiasts,” through Jan. 6. This year brings the most ambitious layout to date, featuring 370 feet of track, 58 turn-outs, 38 working signals, 20 5-foot modules and eight corner units. A separate exhibit of Lionel trains and Victorian era children’s blocks are on display in an upstairs gallery.

“A Journey on Common Ground” — An exhibit of moving photographs, video and art objects from around the world exploring the causes of disability and the efforts of the Wheelchair Foundation to provide a wheelchair for every person in need who cannot afford one.

The Eugene O’Neill Foundation, Tao House, celebrates and promotes the vision and legacy of Eugene O’Neill, American playwright. The foundation collaborates with the National Park Service in restoring and preserving Tao House in Danville.

Ongoing:

Tours are offered Wednesday through Sunday: all year, 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Reservations are required; directions given when reservations confirmed. No admission fee. 925-838-0249.

A variety of programs including plays, sea chanteys, staged readings, seminars and lectures are available throughout the year. Call the National Park Service at 925-838-0249.

or the O’Neill Foundation at 925-820-1818 for information on programs.

The site preserves the 1882 Muir House, a 17-room mansion where naturalist John Muir lived from 1890 to his death in 1914. Also part of the site is the historic Martinez Adobe and Mount Wanda, the 325-acre tract of oak woodland and grassland historically owned by the Muir family. Mount Wanda offers a nature trail and several fire trails for hiking. Daily, sunrise to sunset.

Public tours of the John Muir House — Begin with an eight-minute park film and then take the tour. The film runs every 15 minutes throughout the day. 2 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays; 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

The entry fee at the Muir historic site is $3 general; free for children 16 and younger. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, 4202 Alhambra Ave., Martinez. 925-228-8860 or 925-229-3857 or http://www.nps.gov/jomu.

LINDSAY WILDLIFE MUSEUM

Lindsay Wildlife Museum is a unique natural history and environmental education center where live, wild animals are just inches away. More than 50 species of live, nonreleasable, native California animals are on exhibit. The museum offers programs, classes and trips to connect people with wildlife.

Special exhibits:

“The Art of Nature,” through Jan. 6. More than 600 volunteers contribute 120,000 hours annually, helping sick or orphaned wild animals, teaching visitors about the wonders of nature, and providing fun and educational programs for school children. In addition to their talents as dedicated volunteers, many are outstanding professional or amateur artists. The seventh annual volunteer art show features the work of dozens of artists in oil, acrylic, photography, sculpture and mixed-media.

“Diablo: a Personal View,” through Feb. 28. Sue Reynolds, a local photographer, debuts a Mount Diablo-only exhibit, which includes nearly 30 imates from around the mountain that stands above Central County. Reynolds is a fourth-generation Bay Area native. She has hiked, played and photographed in the Bay Area her entire life and feels a strong connection to the land.

“California Indians Exhibit,” through March 2. Because local Indians relied on the environment for all their needs, they developed a deep knowledge of plants and animals, the weather and the cycles of the seasons. They wasted very little and were careful to use the resources they had in a responsible way — practices that are sensible today. This exhibit will showcase the museum’s collection representing the life and culture of early Californian Indians, focusing on tribes from Northern California. A one-half sized model of a tule house, baskets and other cooking devices, bows & arrows, toys, games, cradle board, arrowheads and mounts of some of the animals that lived during that time will be incorporated into this exhibit, prepared in consultation with native American advisors.

$7 general; $6 seniors, 65 & older, and students, 18 and older, with valid student identification; $5 children, ages 2 to 17; free, members and children under age 2.

The Ruth Bancroft Garden displays 2,000 specimens from around the world that thrive in an arid climate. Included are African and Mexican succulents, New World cacti, Australian and Chilean trees, and shrubs from California.

Winter tours:

Docent tours, through March 29 — 10 a.m. Saturdays. Docent-led tours last about 11/2 hours. Plant sales follow the tour. By reservation only. $7 general; garden members and children younger than 12 are free.

Self-guided tours, 9:30 a.m.-noon Monday-Friday without reservations; through March 29. Check in at garden office; self-guided tours last one hour. Plant sales follow the tour. $7 per person; garden members and children younger than 12 are free. Self-guided tours are also available at the start of any scheduled docent-led tour.

Group tours — 10-person minimum; can be scheduled Wednesdays through Saturdays.

“Winter Break Movies,” 2:30-4:30 p.m. Jan. 2, 3 and 4. Chase away the blues with winter-themed family movies at both San Ramon libraries. For specific titles and ratings, call 925-973-2850 for the main San Ramon Library and 925-973-2850 for the Dougherty Station Library. Due to staffing, small children may not attend the movies alone.

“Endangered Species” — An exhibit of photographs about the most endangered animals on Earth and what can be done to save them. At the Education Center. Open daily during zoo hours. Free with regular zoo admission.

“Wildlife Theater” — On Saturday, listen to a story and meet a live animal. On Sunday, meet live animals and learn interesting facts about them. 11:45 a.m. Saturday, 1:45 p.m. Sunday. Free with general admission.

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